Forsyth County to Open 32-38-Foot Climbing Tower at Sawnee Preserve in April

Forsyth County announced a new climbing tower scheduled to open in April at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, offering routes that range from 32 to 38 feet and 2,208 square feet of climbing area that can accommodate up to 10 climbers and two rappel participants at once. County and media notices say the structure will be available to individual climbers and groups such as camps, birthday parties and group programs.

The county press release identifies the tower as a multiuse structure allowing top-rope climbing, lead climbing and rappelling, and says belay clinics and climbing programs will begin on Saturdays in August. Forsyth County lists the location as Sawnee Mountain Preserve, 4075 Spot Road in Cumming, and gives the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center phone number as (770) 781-2217; the center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Forsyth County materials name Challenge Design Innovation of Pineola, N.C., as the builder and say the new climbing tower was made possible by a $60,000 donation from the Sawnee Mountain Foundation. The county press release reports the total cost of the project, including construction and staff training, as $59,998.

Parks & Recreation Director Jim Pryor is quoted in the county release: "We are very excited to offer this amenity to Forsyth County residents," said Pryor. "This new climbing tower adds more fun and adventure to an already robust assortment of activities available at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, and we can't wait to hear what people think."

There is a timeline discrepancy in the public record: the Forsyth County press release carries the header Press Release 000994 MARCH 20, 2017 and states the tower "is scheduled to open in April," while a separate notice indicates Forsyth County Parks & Recreation announced on Feb. 25, 2026 that a new climbing tower will open in April 2026 and that the county news feed posted the item that week. Forsyth County contacts listed in the release are Communications Coordinator Sarah Dunlap, (678) 455-8526, SCDunlap@forsythco.com, which the county provides for further clarification.

Media accounts including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution describe the tower as opening in mid-April and note it "offers more than 2,000 square feet of climbing space" and will serve both individual climbers and organized groups. Forsyth County materials and local outlets also say the tower can be scheduled for camps, group programs and birthday parties and that belay clinics begin on Saturdays in August.